This morning we finally got to see Nancy’s Garden. What we thought might be 10 acres is more like 3 but we were soon to learn that it is more than adequate. I took some video and pictures and will share those as I can. There were several women and one man working the ground with short-handled tools. There were also two armed guards. Ken and I are exploring ways to make this process go faster. The local organization with the tractor and plow said the ground was too hard in this dry season to use that. So maybe dynamite – lol. The soil is clay with sand. There are few rocks. But the soil sets up like concrete in this heat and lack of rain. We continue to seek options to speed up the process. This garden is called Nancy’s Garden, in memory of our mother as it is her children who have provided the funds for it. It was very special to be there today.
But the real unbelievable part of the day came a few minutes later when we traveled to another large farm. This is a new grass-roots effort done by some local Christians. They have 800 women working a large area of land. As we approached we could see the women off in the distance working the fields and a noise that sounded like migrating birds gathered in trees. It was the sound of the women talking and laughing as they worked. It was the sound of hope. As we got closer they stopped their work and came to greet us. They immediately came to me as the only woman in our group, encircled me and began to sing hymns. When I repeated their chants, they cheered and did the standard African cry of “EEEEEEEEEEEK”. I did my best imitation and they cheered more. One of the women then prayed.
Then they took us around to their gardens. Their only form of fence is piles of brush. And their only water was a large puddle. About 5-6 women worked a section of garden about 5 X 7 feet, very small but understandable after seeing the women in Nancy’s Garden trying to prepare the soil. Between each micro-garden was a raised path. They were very proud to pose for pictures around their plots of okra, watermelon, tomatoes, etc.
We then gathered under a tree for introductions. Each of us was asked to speak and our director, Justin, translated. Several of their leading women also spoke and one prayed. Then they gave us a goat, beautiful brown coat. We put the goat in the trunk of the car and left as we had appointments back at Pan Door and we were quite late.
What made this place so miraculous was the hope and joy of the people. They spelled out their problems to us and they were significant (cows and goats easily able to walk over the brush fence, lack of water, some had to walk many miles to get there) but they came 6 days a week to cultivate a future of food for their families. God was truly in that place, the ground felt holy.
And don’t worry about the goat in the trunk. He is safe, at least for the moment, but will likely be somebody’s dinner soon.
As soon as we got back I met with the teachers. This is another responsibility of a board member’s visit. Then after a very quick lunch I met with the female students. We just talked about life for them now and in the future. I had brought items for sanitary protection kits. After we talked some about the issue of menstruation for females in South Sudan and that they liked the kits I had brought before, I got out everything I had and we began to put kits together. Pair of panties, 5 pads, mechanism to secure the pads to the panties, card with directions all inside a zip lock bag. They were so very excited to receive them. Because we are short complete kits for all the female students, we will try to sew more items and buy more panties at the local market. I would like every female student who wants one to have one.
Some of the female students came back to my room to help me gather the supplies and discovered the hand-made teddy bears Ken had brought from a woman in his community. Our plan was to take them to the Anglican Church on Sunday to distribute to the children there. But the students were so excited about them that we gave them all away. Toys are a luxury none of these students have experienced. I had fun showing them how children in the US play with stuffed animals: giving them names, personalities, talk to them and for them, etc. They became like children themselves. So, we went from the talk of becoming a woman to them becoming children again. It was great fun and they did not want to leave, in fact, more than one stayed until nearly 7 pm.
So now we have two new idea for sewing projects: sanitary protection kits and stuffed animals. These will be easier than sewing uniforms and will provide good practice as they continue to learn sewing skills. They also provide a possible business for students – selling these hand-made items in the market as there are none now.
Kory had 2 more groups of students working on the computers. Today he pushed them to learn basic spread sheets. I even helped a bit with this. (Bob would be so proud of me since he is the one who taught me.) This goes along with the teaching of business skills and will help them when they go to develop their own business plan.
Tonight, Justin invited us to his home for dinner. We ate outside under the stars. A woman had prepared the meal (not goat). It was a most beautiful evening, ending a most miraculous day.
-Marg
No comments:
Post a Comment